COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Supreme Court is poised to directly address the challenge surrounding taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 private tuition.
The justices have set a hearing date of March 6, one week before the application period ends.
Amidst the legal proceedings, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over families and children eagerly anticipating participation in the program's first year.
Under the legislation signed by Governor Henry McMaster in May, parents of up to 5,000 students could potentially receive $6,000 for private school tuition, starting in August 2024.
To qualify for the vouchers, students must be attending a public school in South Carolina and qualify for Medicaid.
Grandparent Ellen Brock expressed her support, saying, “I think that parents should have a choice. There may be situations where the public school system isn't good for their child, and they financially may not be able to put them in private school.”
The legal challenge comes from the South Carolina Education Association, State Conference of the NAACP, and several parents, asserting that taxpayer-funded payments violate the state constitution.
SCEA President Sherry East stated, “When you read our constitution, it says you're not allowed to use public tax dollars for private school. I don't know how much more clear it can be than that.”
Republican Senator Larry Grooms, the legislation's sponsor, expressed confidence in its constitutionality.
“This has happened in other states, and in other states where lawsuits like this were filed, they have lost every time. I expect that they'll lose again. And the big winners will be the parents and the children of South Carolina. So I'm looking forward to the Supreme Court having the final say on it,” said Grooms.
Senator Grooms further defended the program, stating, “If the Supreme Court thought that there were any problems with it, they would have issued a stay, which would have stopped the implementation of the program.”
Sherry East added, "I think the court has already ruled on this once with the COVID cares money. You know, the governor tried to take the COVID money and give it to the private schools, and they did rule in our favor on that."
The application period is set to open on January 30, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meanwhile, the State Department of Education has chosen ClassWallet to establish and manage the online portal system for the scholarship program.
The $4.2 million contract is scheduled to commence on December 23 and extend through June 30, 2027.